Notification Details

CHANGES TO INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL TO THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA  

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION  

Effective of 8 November 2021, all non-immigrant, non-citizen air travellers to the U.S. are required to be fully vaccinated and provide proof of vaccination status prior to boarding the flight. Seafarers who are traveling with a C-1 and D nonimmigrant visa are exempt from being fully vaccinated against COVID-19. However, testing and quarantine requirements apply to crew not fully vaccinated or crew without documentation of having recovered from COVID-19 in the past 90 days.  

Crew embarking the ship the same day they arrive in the U.S. must either:

• Self-quarantine in a single-occupancy cabin with a private bathroom for at least 7 days after arriving in the U.S., or

• Maintain a “working” quarantine on board the ship for at least 7 days after arriving in the U.S.  

Crew who are not embarking the ship the day they arrive in the United States must self-quarantine for 7 days in hotel accommodations.

Crew who will board the ship before the 7-day self-quarantine period is completed must quarantine in their hotel until boarding the ship. Once onboard, crew must follow one of the quarantine options outlined above for the remainder of their quarantine period.

Before boarding a flight to the U.S., all passengers must present a negative COVID-19 viral test result or proof of having recovered from COVID-19 in the last 90 days.  

• fully vaccinated: test must be taken no more than 3 days before flight’s departure. If test was done 2-3 days before the flight, traveller must show proof of being fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

• not fully vaccinated: test must be taken no more than 1 day before flight’s departure.

• recently recovered from COVID-19: may instead travel with documentation of recovery from COVID-19 where test taken no more than 90 days before flight’s departure and letter from licensed healthcare provider or public health official is stating cleared to travel.  

Non-cruise ship international crew arriving the U.S. via air who have not been fully vaccinated must get a second test 3-5 days after arrival unless they can document having recovered from COVID-19 in the past 90 days.

Further clarification from the Department of Transportation on questions raised on the new requirements for seafarers entering the U.S. via air is attached.  

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